Chapter 26 Bodyguard 2B the E-Class Containment Mission Begins

YoRHa No.

2 Type B was an android from the world of NieR:Automata.

In that world, both humanity and the hostile aliens that had once fought them were already gone.

All that remained were humanity’s android creations and the alien-created Machine Lifeforms, continuing their endless war across Earth.

YoRHa No.

2 Type B—more commonly known simply as 2B—was a combat android belonging to the YoRHa forces.

“2B” was her designation.

“YoRHa” was the name of the unit she belonged to.

And the “B” referred to her status as a Battle-type model.

Members of the YoRHa android forces didn’t possess conventional names and addressed one another exclusively by their designations.

This was because YoRHa regulations prohibited androids from expressing emotions.

Of course, that didn’t stop 2B from being a calm, composed, and strikingly beautiful woman.

Having played NieR:Automata in his previous life, Ethan knew perfectly well how powerful YoRHa combat androids could be.

And 2B filled a serious weakness in his current situation.

Ethan lacked a truly qualified personal protector.

After all, he was constantly dealing with anomalies.

No matter how much training and equipment he possessed, he was still fundamentally human.

Having an overwhelmingly powerful combat android at his side would drastically improve his chances of survival.

At the same time, she could serve as a powerful deterrent against anyone who might try to target him directly.

Sure enough, not long after Ethan purchased the Character Card, someone knocked on his office door.

“Sir, Headquarters has determined that your personal security is insufficient.” “An android bodyguard has therefore been assigned to you.” “She has already arrived.

Would you like to meet her?” “Send her in.” The office door opened.

A woman slowly walked inside.

She wore a black dress, thigh-high boots, and a black combat visor covering her eyes.

Her silver hair framed a flawless face, and beneath the visor were striking blue eyes.

Then came a familiar, cool female voice.

“YoRHa No.

2 Type B, Battle Model, reporting as ordered.” “Commander.” She looked exactly as Ethan remembered from the game.

But seeing 2B standing in front of him in reality was far more striking than seeing her on a screen.

Even though Ethan knew she was an android, there was almost nothing about her appearance that distinguished her from a human being.

If anything, the opposite was true.

Precisely because she was an android, she appeared almost unnaturally perfect.

A real human body inevitably possessed imperfections.

Human beings hadn’t undergone any kind of complete genetic optimization, after all.

Skin.

Hair.

Body maintenance.

Countless minor problems that could trouble an ordinary woman simply didn’t exist for an android like 2B.

Her body had been engineered rather than born.

Even extreme physical strain that would leave an ordinary human bedridden wouldn’t necessarily prevent her from immediately returning to combat.

In a sufficiently cyberpunk society, Ethan imagined that men who couldn’t afford or didn’t want a conventional marriage might simply buy android partners instead.

After all, sufficiently advanced android bodies could theoretically possess all sorts of biological functions.

The black covering across 2B’s eyes wasn’t an ordinary blindfold.

It was a combat visor.

Her primary melee weapons floated behind her through a specialized support field— Virtuous Treaty and Virtuous Contract.

One was a massive greatsword.

The other was a smaller blade.

They might look like conventional melee weapons, but either one was capable of slicing through the armor of a main battle tank.

Nor was 2B limited to close combat.

Three auxiliary Pod units hovered beside her.

They could engage enemies at range using gunfire, laser attacks, and small guided missiles.

Ethan looked up at her.

Although the visor covered her eyes, it couldn’t completely hide the curiosity in her gaze.

After all…

2B had never seen so many actual humans before.

“YoRHa No.

2 Type B.” Ethan smiled.

“Or simply 2B.” “I heard members of YoRHa aren’t permitted to have personal names.” “Is that correct?” “Yes, Commander.” “You only need to address me by my designation.” Ethan leaned back slightly.

“But you’re under my command now.” “From this moment onward, you’ll serve as my direct personal guard, 2B.” “If you perform well…” “I may consider giving you a name of your own.” 2B froze for the briefest moment.

Something inside her emotional processing module seemed to spike unexpectedly.

Or perhaps, as Ethan jokingly thought, her machine spirit had become pleased.

“Really, Commander?” “I…

could have my own name?” “Of course.” Ethan smiled.

“But you’ll have to prove your value to the Foundation first.” It was little more than a casual promise.

Yet apparently the possibility of receiving a real name was enough to fill the android with extraordinary motivation.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do, 2B.” “From now on, you’re responsible for my personal security.” “During combat operations, I also want you to use your communications systems to assist me in battlefield command.” 2B immediately responded, “I will protect you with my life, Commander.” With such a powerful bodyguard now at his side, Ethan finally felt prepared to begin the containment mission that would cost him 5,000 Rumor Points.

[Would you like to spend 5,000 Rumor Points to initiate an E-Class containment mission?] “Yes.” [Ding!

E-Class containment mission initiated.] [Several unusual murders have recently occurred in the Hell’s Kitchen district of New York City.] [During the police investigation, large amounts of evidence were inexplicably erased, and all associated records disappeared.] [The FBI dispatched two agents to investigate the incidents in Hell’s Kitchen.] [Shortly afterward, both agents disappeared without a trace.] [The unusual nature of these cases has now attracted the attention of both S.H.I.E.L.D.

and HYDRA.] [Mission initiated.] [Investigate the mysterious incidents occurring in Hell’s Kitchen.]